Click on map to open large map in new window (Map updated: 11 August 2009)

Click here to view an interactive map of the Northern Ireland dataset as currently collated by CEDaR.The map is generated through the NBN Gateway using their Interactive Mapping Tool.

Formerly known by the name Polyblastia diminuta, this species is most likely to be found overgrowing the thallus of other lichens such as those belonging to the genera Polyblastia, Thelidium and Verrucaria on limestone. The thallus is immersed and the spherical discs (perithecia) form burrows or pits from which they project very slightly so they need to be dug out with the sharp edge of a razor blade. There are several lookalikes but under the microscope the rather small (22-28ųm long), brown, 6- to 15-celled, muriform spores and distinctive halo-like perispore are key features. Look for it on the carboniferous limestone; mainly western in Ireland.

Key characteristics

It is lichenicolous = grows on other pit-forming limestone lichens forming smaller pits or burrows

The small, brown, muriform spores surrounded by a perispore (like a transparent halo) help to distinguish it from similar species.